DRUM Women Power List 2023

EDITORIAL

DRUM editor Thulani Gqirana

‘I know I can be what I want to be, if I work hard at it, I’ll be where I want to be.’

They might be lyrics to a rap song but these 51 women are living proof that dreams do come true and sometimes it takes more than one try to make it, but make it you will.

These 51 women are who we all want to be when we grow up. They show that whether you are in the arts field, or engineering, farming or property and any of the other many fields we covered here, there are no limits.

Here at Drum, we celebrate women in all their seasons. Whether they are in their winning season, or hustling or in their time of rest, they all deserve to be celebrated.

This Women’s Month, we decided to give some love to these women who are in their boss era. They’ve worked hard and it’s paid off, in spades.

So today and every day, we salute them as well as their mothers, grandmothers, aunts and neighbours who had a hand in inspiring their path.

May they also serve as inspiration for the next generation.

DRUM WOMEN POWER LIST

ZINZI VELELO ALAKE

Meet Honey TV and Pop24 head of content, mom and pioneer Zinzi Velelo Alake. She is a powerhouse in the media industry, giving viewers the most entertaining shows to bingewatch.

TSHOLO PEETERS

Growing up in a disadvantaged community and being raised by a single parent who pushed against all odds for her success is one of the reasons Tsholo lives in gratitude.

PORTIA MODISE

Legendary retired Banyana Banyana midfielder Portia Modise describes herself as “a pain in the a*s” when she notices injustice.

NONTOKOZO MADONSELA

No one gets to sit in the hot seat as the group chief marketing officer of a big company without learning a few valuable lessons along the way.

NADIA NAKAI

Nadia Nakai might be one of the more interesting rappers locally. She first came on to the scene and couldn’t duck the comparisons between her and America’s Nicki Minaj.

HOPE MBHELE

A fine example of authenticity, resilience, and altruism, Hope has trodden the less travelled path to become the distinguished multihyphenate she is now.

GORGEOUS M

Gorgeous Mbali's Hermosa Flor recently won the award for the best beauty brand 2023 at the Top 16 Youth Owned Brand Awards.

LADY SKOLLIE

Lady Skollie wants to encourage boldness in others through her art. The artist recently won the Standard Bank Art Prize for her work Groot Gaat.

CONNIE CHIUME

When she started acting, in 1977, she was following her passion, but little did she know decades later she would be mentoring a new generation of artists, but this is Connie’s way of giving back to the industry.

NATASHA JOUBERT

The new Miss SA is more than her beautiful smile. She has a beautiful story of resilience.

SARAY KHUMALO

Saray Khumalo is a record-breaker after her climb to become the first black African woman to summit Everest in May 2019.

NALEDI M

There is no stopping Naledi M on her journey to success as she returns on Channel O’s My Top 5.

GUGULETHU MAHLANGU

Traditionally, farming requires abundant land but farmers like Gugulethu Mahlangu are approaching the land shortage issue in Joburg differently.

HLONI MODISE

How Hloni Modise birthed the Basadi In Music Awards.

FARANANI MUTAVHATSINDI

Her happy place is her farm - just a stone throw away from her home. She shares her journey of building a farming empire from a wheelbarrow.

AZANIA MOSAKA

She’s a powerhouse. A giant in broadcasting. Tall in posture, many have stood on her shoulders. Even with more than 20 years of impact in her industry, she has managed to stay rooted to her true self.

KIM JAYDE

Growing up in Zim has played a big part in shaping the person Kim Jayde has become – focused, hard-working and brilliant.

YOLENDA JAWE

The Nelspruit-born digital creator has always believed in her power. She left a corporate career in finance to start her own skincare business.

BONNIE MESLANE

The 32-year-olD from Mqanduli in the Eastern Cape has been in the media and entertainment industry for a decade.

SHOBANA MAIKOO

She’s a strong believer in the fact that leaders are not born but made, "so I believe it was my nurturing that made me the leader I am today".

DITSHEGO SEDIKELA

Ditshego funded her tea business from her savings. She jokes that sipping tea is not just for the elderly.

NTOKOZO ZUNGA

Representing South Africa abroad, Ntokozo Zungu is edging closer of becoming a professional tennis player.

ZANELE MBOKAZI

She left radio at the peak of her career to build a successful business. Now the entrepreneur has returned to her first love, radio, with a few awards under her belt.

NOMALUNGELO STOFILE

Diamonds are a girl's best friend, as the expression goes. But when a girl is trying to own a diamond trading business, it's a different case altogether.

ANELE ZONDO

Broadcaster, host and rapper Ney the Bae is making music for the ages.

PABI COOPER

Amapiano’s new princess is ready to reign. Pabi Cooper says she would love to work with Burna Boy, Wizkid and Cardi B.

VERONICA MOLEELE

“We are our own worst enemies. I also don’t think we support each other enough or celebrate each other’s successes.”

S’NE MAGAGULA

There may not be many black women in the hallowed corridors of the C-suite, but many of those who rise to the top are there to realise their personal aspirations and lift others as they rise, including this powerhouse. .

CHARMAINE MABUZA

“My love for the gaming sector stems from the notion of changing people's lives through our life-changing jackpots.”

RAY CASSIEM

Nearly two decades ago, Ray Cassiem was diagnosed with cancer. Today she still faces this disease head-on, inspiring hope.

SINENJABULO ZUNGU

Being CEO of a football club wasn't one of her dream jobs, she admits. She had always seen herself making an impact in the world as a marketing guru.

DINEO MOKGOSHI

With no farming experience, she used her savings to buy 26 mixed-breed cows and a white Brahman bull and now she's revelling in the joys of farming.

NEO MAKHELE

Growing up in the township made her a better strategist, says Neo Makhele, Ogilvy's chief of strategy..

NONKOSI DYANTYI

Nonkosi Dyantyi started Lebama Group Logistics last year and says there is no looking back as her truck business booms.

CANDICE CHIRWA

As the self-appointed minister of menstruation, this menstrual health activist says it would be great if there was a real ministry with the backing of government funding to put an end to period poverty.

SHIRLEY ADONISI

Shirley Adonisi has been inspired into leadership and now she inspires. As M-Net's director for local entertainment channels, she says she hasn’t always been the confident boss lady she is today.

THULISILE MOKWENA

From microbiologist to farmer, Thulisile Mokwena is living her dream.

ZANDILE MKWANAZI

Next year, her foundation will be 10 years old, and Zandile Mkwanazi is in awe at how social enterprise GirlCode has changed so many young girls' lives.

NOMAKHOSI MAKOLOTA

This remarkable property developer bought stands with shacks and turned them into blocks of flats.

TAMARA REDDY

Many may recognise her as the cook sharing mouthwatering chicken recipes. But she’s an extraordinary girl from sunny Durban, who’s upping our kitchen skills one drumstick at a time.

WENDY VESELA-NTIMBANI

“I cashed out my pension fund to bring masonja to the world.”

AMOHELANG MALANGABI

This young farmer says following your dream is doable. “One has to try and stick to their dreams and not succumb to peer pressure, as many young people are driven by fashion, trends and drinking.”

NTOMBENHLE KHETHWANE

Ntombenhle Khethwane is the founder of Afrobotanics. Her passion to pursue a line of products that encourages women to have better relationships with their hair started when she first saw her grandmother's beautifully soft afro. Her gogo was 83 at the time.